AMT Coffee, which has 53 bars across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, has secured the Fair Tax Mark, becoming the first coffee company with a nationwide presence to provide consumers with a Fair Tax choice across its coffee bars.

AMT Coffee’s fair tax certification is significant given the findings of recent research from Populus*, which found that the UK public not only still mistrust companies such as Starbucks on tax matters (and that this is still negatively impacting their reputation), but that this mistrust has now also extended to other Food & Drink brands.

AMT Coffee has a presence in railway stations, airports and NHS hospitals. They join a growing list of retailers that have achieved the Fair Tax Mark, putting them alongside The Co-op, Lush Cosmetics, Richer Sounds and many others.

Alistair McCallum-Toppin, an original founder of the company and Managing Director of AMT Coffee, said: “AMT Coffee was the first national coffee company to support Fairtrade, and I’m delighted that we are now the first coffee retailer to offer customers a Fair Tax choice across our quality coffee bars nationwide. Consumers are becoming much more discerning, especially when it comes to the ethics of a company. They want their brands to reflect their own ethical stances. The strength of feeling on companies paying their fair share of tax has really gained momentum over the last few years and the Fair Tax Mark allows us to respond to this overwhelming demand for clarity with our customers.”

Paul Monaghan, Chief Executive of the Fair Tax Mark said: “Consumers are rightly angry when they hear of multinational coffee shops paying little or no corporation tax in the UK – sometimes year after year after year. Many consumers have boycotted the likes of Starbucks, but up until now they have not had the option of supporting a brand with locations nationwide that has independent assurance that it pays the right amount of tax in the right place, at the right time.

“AMT Coffee do not make use of tax havens or abusive tax avoidance schemes, and would appear to be a natural fit for public sector procurers who want to ensure that taxpayers monies actively support tax justice. With more retail opportunities being made available in the likes of NHS hospitals and town halls, it seems only right and proper that the companies operating in the public sector should pay their fair share of tax and help contribute to these vital services on which we all rely.”

As part of their Fair Tax Mark certification, AMT Coffee have provided additional clarifications on their economic activity and taxes in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Their accounts provide detailed current tax and total tax reconciliations, as well as a narrative deferred tax explanation.

Consumers looking to support businesses committed to paying their fair share of tax can find the more than 1,500 shops and offices of Fair Tax Mark accredited organisations at www.fairtaxmark.net/map.

This company is 28% owned by a Trust and there is no indication as to who the beneficiaries of the trust are. Haven’t you been critical of such arrangements in the past?

And the company uses different classes of share – a typical arrangement when dividends are used to replace salary this saving NIC. Haven’t you been critical of such arrangements in the past?

And although the company made losses last year and although many of the employees are paid well below the national living wage, the directors handsomely rewarded themselves with salaries in excess of £300k p.a. haven’t you been critical of such arrangements in the past?

But of course. AMT pay a company of which you are a director. And your criticisms melt away.